Noah’s eyes are frantically scanning my face. ‘What did you say to him?’
‘We talked, that was it.’
Noah sighs. ‘Well, he’s dumped his girlfriend so you must have said something. Did he fancy you?’
The question robs me of breath. I stare at Noah. ‘No, Rocco didn’t fancy me but if he did – it would be none of your business.’
Something flickers across Noah’s face. ‘Didyoufancy him?’
I let out a wail of frustration. ‘No, I did not fancy Rocco Reid.’
For a few seconds we face each other. Noah’s eyes are focused on my lips, and he’s breathing quickly. Something awakens inside of me, sending a rush of excitement around my body. I quickly suppress it and remind myself of everything he has done to hurt me.
Noah breaks our trance and gets his phone from the counter. ‘Social media has gone crazy. Everyone is now calling us Heartbreak Café and Rocco’s fans have given it a serious number of likes.’
Frankie’s face appears in my mind. There has been no word from him. As Noah shows me the social media, I become wrapped in a heavy cloak of guilt. In the space of a week, we’ve received a high number of complaints; I’ve somehow contributed to the break-up of a high-profile celebrity relationship at the café and everyone on social media is talking about heartbreak at The Little Love Café. This is all my fault.
As the morning progresses, the café becomes a graveyard for broken hearts. Everyone who has come here is either doing the dumping or is being dumped. Noah and I groan as two couples argue about their dull relationships and one half of a third couple storms out after his partner commented that his new hairstyle had aged him by ten years.
On my break I walk past the gift shop and give Esme a wave. I’m about to go in and see her when Joy comes into view. With Joy breathing down her neck Esme wouldn’t be able to talk.
Instead, I go into town and try to block out the sound of my argument with Noah playing on repeat in my mind. I find myself walking into Phoebe’s bookshop. It is an amazing place to go if, like me, you love books. And it’s even better if you don’t have to go hunting for Batman books with a bored six-year-old tugging on your arm.
Phoebe has split the bookshop into different sections and has used her creativity and artistic skills to bring them to life. HerCrime Scenesection comes complete with police tape lining the shelves, tiny magnifying glasses attached to the two large bookcases and a table filled with crime and thriller books.
InRomance Land, she’s erected wooden shelves painted sugary pink. Romance books are scattered over a round table with a pink and white gingham tablecloth complete with little vases of plastic flowers and a fancy tea set.
HerFairy Book Kingdomhas a toadstool for the little ones to sit on, plastic flowers, and a magical castle painted onto a giant piece of card behind the shelves. I love theYoung Adultsectionwhich has eye-catchinggothic décor, black and silver walls and two high-backed vintage purple velvet chairs.
Phoebe is at the till. She gives me a friendly wave before attending to a customer.
Reading has always been a passion of mine. Whenever I am stressed, I gravitate towards bookshops. My eyes are drawn to the display of bestselling romance author Celia Black’s latest novel. The eye-catching cover features two figures sat on a snowy mountain looking up into a starry indigo sky.
Before my wedding and relationship with Scott crumbled, I was an avid reader of romance novels. Celia Black was one of my favourite authors. When I realised I didn’t love Pete anymore I found the strength to end that relationship by reading Celia’s book,The Approval List.
Her new book is titledAlways You. An uplifting and romantic story about two exes who find themselves thrown together on a charity trek to Base Camp Everest. Over the course of the trek, they overcome many physical and mental struggles, and go on a journey of self-discovery. My eyes are drawn back to the cover. In view of how close the couple are sitting on the mountain; I’m sensing it’s a happy ending.
‘It’s her best romance yet,’ says Phoebe, jolting me out of my thoughts. ‘The couple hate each other at the start of the trek.’
Noah’s face comes into my head.
Phoebe continues. ‘She does a great job because when you start reading it you do worry one of the exes is going to push the other off the mountain.’
I smile. ‘I’m intrigued how they stop hating each other. Is it soppy though?’
Phoebe shakes her head. ‘It makes you think and laugh a lot.’
Keith, her assistant, looks over from stacking books. ‘Alice, do you follow Celia Black on social media? Her posts are always soppy and emotional. Personally, I prefer following the crime and thriller authors, they are hilarious. The darker and grizzlier the murders they write, the funnier the authors are on social media. Some of the ones who write about serial killers are such a hoot.’
Keith always makes me chuckle with his observations of the literary world.
‘I am going to buy it and treat myself.’
Phoebe pats me on the shoulder. ‘I have seen the café’s social media about Rocco Reid splitting with his girlfriend. How are you?’
‘I’m fine. I saved him from drowning.’
Phoebe and Keith gasp in unison and Keith hurries over.
